Miniature electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector for a board or other panel member having wire conductors or printed circuitry associated therewith and comprising a housing formed of a dielectric material having a plurality of electrical contacts mounted therein. The contacts are provided with tab portions which permit easy insertion into the housing and the housing is provided with shoulder means for cooperating with the tab portions to retain the contacts in position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Linn Stephen Lightner Camp Hill, Pa.[21] Appl. No. 759,971 [22] Filed Sept. 16,1968 [45] Patented Apr. 6,1971 [73] Assignee AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.

[54] MINIATURE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 339/176, 339/17, 339/217 [51] Int. Cl H05k 1/07, HOIk 13/50[50] Field ofSearch 339/17, 176 (M), 176 (MP), 220 (T), 217 (S) [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,085,220 4/1963 Sitz 339/183,160,459 12/1964 Greco et al. 339/176 2,911,612 11/1959 .lacksonetal.339/176(MP) 3,008,113 l1/196l Johnson 339/17 3,015,083 12/1961 Juris339/176(MP) 3,422,394 1/1969 Antes 339/176(MP) FOREIGN PATENTS 882,69811/1961 GreatBritain 339/176(MP) Primary Examiner-Marvin A. CahmpionAssistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab Attorneys-Curtis, Morris andSafford, Marshall M.

I-Iolcombe, William Hintze, William .1. Keating, Frederick W. Raring,John R. Hopkins, Adrian J. LaRue and Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: Anelectrical connector for a board or other panel member having wireconductors or printed circuitry associated therewith and comprising ahousing formed of a dielectric material having a plurality of electricalcontacts mounted therein. The contacts are provided with tab portionswhich permit easy insertion into the housing and the housing is providedwith shoulder means for cooperating with the tab portions to retain thecontacts in position.

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MINIATURE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR This invention provides an electricalconnector for use as an edge connector on a circuitry board. Throughoutthe specification and claims when the term circuitry board" is used itis to be understood that this term broadly encompasses any panel member,or memory frame, provided with electrical conductors in either wire orprinted form. The connector of the instant invention utilizes aninsulating housing formed as a one-piece mold which receives electricalcontacts along one side and receives the circuitry board along itsopposite side. Constricted passages are provided so that the contactsare in communication with the circuitry board.

The contacts retained in the housings of edge connectors are normallyintended to be subsequently soldered to the conductors of a circuitryboard. The means provided by this invention for retaining the contactswithin the housing is sufficient to permit the soldering operation andis also sufficient to withstand normal mating forces between the edgeconnector and its mating connector. However, the contacts may be removedfrom the housing if desired by applying a force to the contacts which isin excess of the normal mating force.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an edgeconnector for a circuitry board.

A further object is to provide a connector of simple and inexpensiveconstruction.

A further object is to provide a one-piece housing for an edge connectorwhich housing is capable of being interfitted with adjacent housings toprovide undisturbed contact spacing between housings.

Another object is to provide a contact having a tab portion whichperforms the dual function of retaining the contact in position within ahousing and for connecting the contact to the circuitry of a board.

A still further object is to provide an edge connector which may receivea circuitry board having circuitry on one side or on both sides thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, in which likereference numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing the edge connector of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the reverse side of the connectorof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a female receptacle for use with theconnector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a male pin member for use with theconnector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the tab portion of the contacts shown inFIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing a contactbeing inserted within the housing FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional viewsimilar to FIG. 6 and showing the contact just prior to being fullyseated within the housmg;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and showing thecontact fully seated in the housing;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 and showing theconnector mounted on a circuitry board;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 and showing analternative disposition of the contact tab portions; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 10mounted on a circuitry board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The attainments of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon areading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrativeembodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, thatthese embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of theinvention but are given for purpose of illustration in order that othersskilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principlesthereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they maymodify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditionsof a particular use.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an edge connector 20 made in ac cordance withthe teachings of this invention. The connector comprises a contacthousing 22 which is preferably molded from a dielectric material such asdiallyl phthalate or other similar material. The housing 22 is providedwith a plurality of contact-receiving apertures 24 and 26 disposedrespectively along two parallel planes. The apertures 24 are offset orstaggered in relation to the apertures 26 to permit minimum spacingbetween apertures thus yielding maximum contact density. The oppositeside of the housing from the apertures 24 and 26 is provided with agenerally rectangular opening 28 for receiving an edge of a circuitryboard.

Within each of the apertures 24 and 26 there is disposed an electricalcontact 30. The contacts shown in the connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2 arefemale receptacle but it will be apparent as this description proceedsthat the contacts may alternatively be male pin members rather thanreceptacles as desired for a particular use.

Turning now to FIG. 3 the contact 30 will now be described. The contactcomprises a mating portion 32 and a tab portion 34. The mating portionin this instance comprises a female receptacle arranged to receive amale pin member along its longitudinal axis as indicated in FIG. 3 bythe arrow 36. Various types of receptacles may be used in place of thespecific receptacle shown in- FIG. 3. However, for purposes ofillustration the receptacle of FIG. 3 comprises a pair of generally V-shaped spring members 38 which cooperate to resiliently engage a pinmember to form an electrical connection therebetween.

The tab portion 34 of the contact 30 extends away from the matingportion 32 and, as will be apparent, serves to secure the contact withinthe housing 22 and further serves to connect the contact with thecircuitry on a board. The tab portion 34 is made up generally of threesections. The first section 40 extends from the mating portion of thecontact and is disposed angularly inwardly toward the central axis ofthe contact mating portion. The section 40 is preferably disposed at anangle of approximately 35 (see FIG. 5) with the mating portion axis andthis section serves a camming function as will be apparent hereafter.

A second section 42 of tab 34 extends from the first section 40 and isdisposed angularly outwardly away from the central axis of the matingportion and makes an angle of generally (see FIG. 5) with the section40.

This second section 42 serves to lock the contact in its associatedhousing 22. A third section 44 of the tab portion extends from thesecond section and is disposed along a plane which is generally parallelto the central longitudinal axis of mating portion 32. Section 44 isoffset from the mating portion so that the plane containing section 44lies outside of the confines of the contact mating portion.

The section 44 of the contact tab portion is ultimately to beelectrically connected to circuitry associated with a board. For ease ofassembly it is preferred that the tab be provided with a plating ofsolder properly positioned along the tab so that by merely adding heatat a later time the tab may be connected with the external circuitry.The section 44 of the tab portion is provided with means for retainingthe solder plating in position and this means comprises a pair ofcuplike portions 46 and 48 which are arcuate troughs formed along thetab portion and oppositely disposed for a purpose to be described.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a pin member 50 having a nose portion 52mateable with the contact receptacle 30 previously described. Pin 50 isprovided with a tab portion which is identical to the tab portiondescribed in connection with the receptacle of FIG. 3 and for thisreason the illustration and description of the tab portion is beingomitted in connection with pin member 50.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 through 9 there is shown the manner of insertingand retaining the contacts within housing 22. Although the contactreceptacle 30 is shown in the drawings it is to be understood that thefollowing description would apply equally to the pin member 50 beinginserted and held within the housing.

The housing apertures 24 and 26 are provided with tapered entrances 54so as to aid in leading the contacts into the respective apertures. Thecontact is inserted into the housing by first placing the tab portioninto the aperture with the mating portion trailing. The apertures 24 and26 are provided at their innermost ends with constricted passageways 56which join the apertures with the rectangular board receiving opening 28and permit passage of the tab portions therethrough. It can be seen inFIG. 6 that the offset disposition of the tab portions relative to themating portions of the contact prevents the mating portion from enteringthe contact aperture while the tab portion remains in its initialposition parallel to the axis of the mating portion. Turning now to FIG.7 the contact has been inserted further into aperture 24 and suchinsertion has caused the tab portion to be deflected inwardly as thevarious sections of the tab portion endeavor to pass throughtheconstricted passageway 56.

In FIG. 8 the contact is shown fully seated in the aperture 24 and inthis position the tab portion is permitted to return to its initialposition of parallelism. The first portion 40 of the tab portioncooperates with the inner surface of the passageway 56 to thus act as acam forcing the second section 42 of the tab portion to cooperate with ashoulder 58 formed along the inner surface of the opening 28. Theopening 28 has grooves 60 disposed therein for receiving the thirdsection 44 of the various tab portions. It can be seen in FIG. 8 thatthe contacts which are disposed in the apertures 24 and 26 are locked inposition and are ready to receive a board member. It should be noted atthis point that the locking effect of the tab portions may be overcomeby exerting sufficient force on the contacts if it is desired to removea selected contact from its housing. The solder cups 46 on the tabportions face outwardly and contain a small pool of solder 62 therein.The tab portions are severed between the solder cups 46 and 48 since thecups 48 are not necessary in this particular application of thecontacts.

In FIG. 9 a board member 64 is shown positioned within the opening 28 ofthe connector. The board has conductors 66 and 68 disposed along itsupper and lower surfaces respectively and these conductors arepositioned in alignment with the tab portions of the contacts withinapertures 24 and 26. In this position heat may be applied in thevicinity of solder cups 46 to cause the solder 62 to flow and therebyeffect an electrical connection between the contact tabs and theconductors. It can also be seen in FIG. 9 that the board member 64 actsagainst section 42 of the tab portions to further aid in main tainingthe contacts in position within the housing by prevent ing movement ofthe tab portion into the position shown in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 there is shown a connector which is identical to theconnector previously described with the exception that the contactlocated within the lower aperture 26 has its tab portion bent upwardlyso as to lie along the same plane as the tab portions extending from thecontacts disposed in the row of apertures 24. Since the apertures 24 and26 are staggered relative to each other the tab portions may extend inthe same plane without any interference between tab portions. In FIGS. 1and 2 the tab portions extending from all of the contacts are showndisposed along a single plane in the same manner as shown in FIG. 10.

Referring again to FIG. 10 the tab portions of the contacts disposed inthe row of apertures 24 are severed between solder cups 46 and 48 aspreviously described. However, the tab portions extending from thecontacts disposed in the row of apertures 26 are not severed since thecups 48 will now be utilized to effect the connection with the circuitryboard. It is believed to be obvious at this point that the oppositedisposition of the solder cups 46 and 48 is to permit crossover of thetab portions as shown in FIG. 10. A board 70 is shown in FIG. 11positioned within the connector and having conductors 72 disposed onlyalong the upper surface of the board. These conductors are in alignmentwith the tab portions of both rows of contacts and, therefore, heat maybe applied to the solder cups to effect the connection. Also the board70 again serves as an additional aid in maintaining the contacts inposition within the housing.

The connector of the instant invention may be formed in various lengthsto accommodate various numbers of contacts. Also, a plurality ofconnectors may be utilized together along an edge of a board withoutdestroying the spacing between contacts. This is achieved by forming thetwo ends of the housing 22 with cutback portions 74 (see FIGS. 1 and 2)whereby the housing will interfit with an adjacent housing and willpermit the contact spacing to be carried uniformly from one connector toan adjacent connector. Housing 22 is also provided with a series ofregularly spaced notches 76 along its upper and lower faces in alignmentwith the contact apertures. These notches may be used to temporarilyposition conductors which are to be soldered to the contact tabportions.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only.

lclaim:

l. A one-piece housing for an edge connector for a circuitry board orthe like, said housing comprising a body portion formed of a dielectricmaterial, a plurality of regularly spaced apertures disposed in saidbody portion, said apertures being of cylindrical configuration forreceiving complementaryshaped electrical contacts, abutment meansdisposed within said body portion for limiting the extent of contactinsertion within said apertures, a generally rectangular openingextending along said housing for receiving an edge of a circuitry board,said apertures and said opening being disposed along opposite side facesof said housing, constructed passageways extending between saidapertures and said rectangular opening for receiving contact tabportions, shoulder means disposed at the intersection of saidpassageways and said rectangular opening, and camming means disposedwithin said passageways between said abutment means and said shouldermeans for camming the contact tab portions into engagement with saidshoulder means for preventing withdrawal of the contacts.

2. A one-piece housing as set forth in claim 1 further comprising aplurality of grooves disposed in parallel relation along saidrectangular opening for receiving the contact tab portions.

3. A one-piece housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperturesare disposed along two parallel rows and wherein the apertures in onerow are staggered in relation to the apertures in the second row.

4. An electrical connector for a circuitry board or the like comprisinga housing formed of a dielectric material and having a plurality ofregularly spaced apertures disposed therein, said apertures being ofgenerally cylindrical configuration and being disposed along a firstside face of said housing, a generally rectangular opening disposed insaid housing and lying along a second side face of said housing oppositeto said first side face for receiving a circuitry board, a plurality ofelectrical contacts disposed respectively in said plurality of aperturesand being of complementary shape therewith and insertable from saidfirst side face of said housing, means integral with said housing forpreventing said contacts from being insertable from said second sideface of said housing, a constricted passageway in said housing forjoining each said aperture with said opening, tab means extending fromeach said contact and having an undulation adjacent the contact passingthrough said passageway for connection with said circuit board, shouldermeans disposed at the intersection of said passageways and saidrectangular opening, means mounting the tabs with a segment of theundulation in contact with the shoulder means and passageway to holdsaid tab means in engagement with said shoulder means for preventingwithdrawal of said contacts from said apertures.

5. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said contactscomprise female receptacles for receiving pin members.

6. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said contactscomprise male pin members for insertion in receptacles.

7. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidapertures are disposed along two parallel rows and wherein the aperturesin one row are staggered in relation to the apertures in a second row.

8. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tabmeans extending from one row of said contacts are disposed along a firstside of said rectangular opening and wherein said tab means extendingfrom a second row of said contacts are disposed along a second side ofsaid rectangular opening.

9. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tabmeans extending from both rows of electrical contacts are disposed alongthe same side of said rectangular opening.

1. A one-piece housing for an edge connector for a circuitry board orthe like, said housing comprising a body portion formed of a dielectricmaterial, a plurality of regularly spaced apertures disposed in saidbody portion, said apertures being of cylindrical configuration forreceiving complementary-shaped electrical contacts, abutment meansdisposed within said body portion for limiting the extent of contactinsertion within said apertures, a generally rectangular openingextending along said housing for receiving an edge of a circuitry board,said apertures and said opening being disposed along opposite side facesof said housing, constructed passageways extending between saidapertures and said rectangular opening for receiving contact tabportions, shoulder means disposed at the intersection of saidpassageways and said rectangular opening, and camming means disposedwithin said passageways between said abutment means and said shouldermeans for camming the contact tab portions into engagement with saidshoulder means for preventing withdrawal of the contacts.
 2. A one-piecehousing as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality ofgrooves disposed in parallel relation along said rectangular opening forreceiving the contact tab portions.
 3. A one-piece housing as set forthin claim 1 wherein said apertures are disposed along two parallel rowsand wherein the apertures in one row are staggered in relation to theapertures in the second row.
 4. An electrical connector for a circuitryboard or the like comprising a housing formed of a dielectric materialand having a plurality of regularly spaced apertures disposed therein,said apertures being of generally cylindrical configuration and beingdisposed along a first side face of said housing, a generallyrectangular opening disposed in said housing and lying along a secondside face of said housing opposite to said first side face for receivinga circuitry board, a plurality of electrical contacts disposedrespectively in said plurality of apertures and being of complementaryshape therewith and insertable from said first side face of saidhousing, means integral with said housing for preventing said contactsfrom being insertable from said second side face of said housing, aconstricted passageway in said housing for joining each said aperturewith said opening, tab means extending from each said contact and havingan undulation adjacent the contact passing through said passageway forconnection with said circuit board, shoulder means disposed at theintersection of said passageways and said rectangular opening, meansmounting the tabs with a segment of the undulation in contact with theshoulder means and passageway to hold said tab means in engagement withsaid shoulder means for preventing withdrawal of said contacts from saidapertures.
 5. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid contacts comprise female receptacles for receiving pin members. 6.An electrical connector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said contactscomprise male pin members for insertion in receptacles.
 7. An electricalconnector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said apertures are disposedalong two parallel rows and wherein the apertures in one row arestaggered in relation to the apertures in a second row.
 8. An electricalconnector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tab means extending fromone row of said contacts are disposed along a first side of saidrectangular opening and wherein said tab means extending from a secondrow of said contacts are disposed along a second side of saidrectangular opening.
 9. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 7wherein said tab means extending from both rows of electrical contactsare disposed along the same side of said rectangular opening.